Entertainment and adventures await. Here are some of the best bets for the weekend and week ahead.

Festive forays

The Stamford Museum and Nature Center will kick off a weekend of events with Oktoberfest on the Meadow on Friday evening, which will feature German fare by Bethel's Old Heidelberg and traditional live music. The festivities will lead into two days of the Harvest Festival Weekend. For further details, including admission, visit www.stamfordmuseum.org. In Darien, the Oktoberfest spirit continues when Darien Post 6933 Veterans of Foreign Wars hosts just such an event, complete with German cuisine and a performance by the band Whistleville. The evening, which will set you back $15, kicks off at 6 p.m. on Saturday at 205 Noroton Ave. For more details, visit www.darienvfw.org.

Musical meanderings

You could spend the entire weekend in Stamford and get your fill of musical genres. On Friday, Christine Pedi and Johnny Rodgers are the second of the "Perfect Pairs" series that kicked off at the Palace Theatre in September (Find tickets at www.scalive.org). Or, see multiple groups celebrate Union Baptist Church's 125th anniversary with a free gospel concert, also on Friday. It kicks off at 7 p.m. at 805 Newfield Ave. Then, on Saturday, start out at Stamford High School where the Black Knights Marching Band will host an annual competition of marching bands at Boyle Stadium, 55 Strawberry Hill Ave., from 5 to 9 p.m. Visit stamfordhighband.net for details. Then head over to The Fez, the restaurant and music club in downtown Stamford, where fans of the Grateful Dead and classic rock will be gathering to hear the Connecticut-based band Terrapin. It has already sold out the early show; night owls need only apply at this point for the 11 p.m. show. For more information, visit terrapinband.com. The fun continues for the little ones when the Laurie Berkner Band visits the Palace Theatre in Stamford for a 3 p.m. show. Good family entertainment on a Sunday afternoon. For more information, visit www.scalive.org. Or, take in music from India during the world music series at the Ferguson Library in downtown Stamford on Sunday afternoon. For more information, visit www.fergusonlibrary.org.

A super time

The Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk will welcome Marvel's superhero Captain America on Saturday for a few hours of derring-do, as well as a meet-and-greet from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The captain might even allow a photo or two. The visit is included in aquarium admission. Visit www.maritimeaquarium.org for more information.

Seeing pink

The Paint the Town Pink campaign presented by Stamford Hospital will continue to raise awareness about breast cancer through community events for the whole family. This weekend, check out "Pink in the Rink," on Saturday, from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Stamford Twin Rinks, in Stamford, when female hockey players take to the ice and raise money. Take a break from the ice for a visit to the "Pink Carnival" at Barry & Fred at 441 Canal St. in Stamford, where family fun will be on the agenda from 1 to 6 p.m. A percentage of sales at this outlet store will support Stamford Hospital's breast cancer programs. For more information, call 203-316-9118. Finally, if you have been thinking of chopping your locks you can go over to Stamford's Salon Cheveux, 1092 High Ridge Road, on Sunday to participate in Cuts for Cancer. For more information, call 203-322-3787.

Searching for the dramatic?

Stamford's Curtain Call's "A Streetcar Named Desire" opens this weekend at the Dressing Room Theatre, 1349 Newfield Ave. It boasts a cast from across Fairfield County and will run for three weekends (early buzz forced the addition of a third weekend of shows even before it opened) It it's a "BYOEverything" format, with cabaret-style seating. For tickets, visit www.curtaincallinc.com or call 203-329-8207. In Norwalk, the Theatre Artists Workshop will present its Playwrights' Festival this weekend, too, which will feature eight new plays. To reserve your seat, visit www.taworkshop.org or call 203-854-6830. The performances are 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, 3 p.m. on Sunday.

Halloween happenings

Beginning this weekend, the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion, 295 West Ave., in Norwalk will invite visitors into the landmark estate for Halloween happenings, including haunted tours. It is open to all ages. For a complete schedule and details on admission, visit lockwoodmathewsmansion.com or call 203- 838-9799. Also in Norwalk, the Carriage House Arts Center at Cranbury Park will be presenting a live production of "The Rocky Horror Show," beginning on Friday. For more information on time and tickets, visit www.carriagehouseartscenter.org or call 203-229-9797.

For a laugh ...

Make sure you have your seat for Artie Lange, the "Elf" fake Santa, who will be at the Palace Theatre in Stamford on Saturday. After years of fighting substance abuse, the New Jersey-born comic has a new book coming out and plans to mine the difficulties of the past several years for his material. Show begins at 8 p.m. 203-325-4466. And, if you missed Ralphie May in Bridgeport, you can catch him at The Tarrytown Music Hall on the same night, Saturday, at 8 p.m. For ticket information, visit www.tarrytownmusichall.org.